trial balance

American  

noun

Bookkeeping.

trial balances plural

1. a statement of all the open debit and credit items, made preliminary to balancing a double-entry ledger.

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trial balance British  

noun

1. accounting a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trial balances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trial balance

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

However, I went on with my trial balance, and the result, when I had completed it, was startling to me.

From Desk and Debit or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk by Optic, Oliver

The trial balance to-night developed a shortage of $1.22.

From V. V.'s Eyes by Harrison, Henry Sydnor

A trial balance, from gross figures, had been drawn off, so that the President was able to report with reasonable exactitude on the condition of the company.

From White Ashes by Kennedy, Sidney R. (Sidney Robinson)

"We don't take a trial balance but once a year."

From Desk and Debit or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk by Optic, Oliver

Taking the trial balance shown above, the following represent the trading account, profit and loss account, Balance sheet. and balance sheet compiled therefrom.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2 "Bohemia" to "Borgia, Francis" by Various